ASLEF


has
cancelled
five
days
of
drivers’
strikes
on
LNER
from
5
to
9
February,
apparently
because
LNER
has
said
it
will
not
be
applying
the
new
law
which
enforces
minimum
service
levels
during
industrial
action.

Rail
minister
Huw
Merriman
had
said
the
government
hoped
the
law
would
be
used,
but
that
it
was
‘a
matter
for
the
employers’.

State-owned
LNER
said:
‘We
welcome
news
that
the
threat
of
extended
disruption
to
our
services
has
been
lifted.

‘We
encourage
ASLEF
to
work
with
us
to
find
a
way
to
end
this
long
running
dispute
which
only
damages
the
rail
industry.’

Walkouts
by
ASLEF
which
had
already
been
called
at
different
English
operators
from
day
to
day
between
30
January
and
5
February
in
its
dispute
over
pay
will
still
be
going
ahead.

As
part
of
this
series
of
walkouts,
there
will
be
a
one-day
strike
by
ASLEF
drivers
at
LNER
on
2
February,
while
an
overtime
ban
will
also
apply
at
all
the
affected
operators
from
29
January
until
6
February,
which
could
cause
some
disruption
if
drivers
are
not
available
for
shifts
as
a
result.